Ruling against Saba licences called unfair, discriminatory

August 13, 2012 8:24 AM

MARIGOT-- A French-side resident who is one of many persons holding a Saba driver's licence that cannot be exchanged for a French-side licence says the ruling adopted by the Executive Council on July 10 is "unfair and discriminatory."

The Executive Council decided July 10 to exchange drivers' licences issued by the government of St. Maarten for French-side drivers' licences, but later clarified that the ruling excluded licences issued in Saba and St. Eustatius.
 
"When you did driving school on the Dutch side for about two months and were accompanied by your teacher to Saba for the exam whether you were from French side or Dutch side, because you did the exam there they issued you a Saba licence despite doing the driving and schooling on the Dutch side," said the licence holder. "Today they don't want to hear anything about Saba.
 
"I think the French government should have changed everyone's licences and then stopped it. I find it's a prejudice. Some people with Saba licences are getting their licences changed and some are not, because they changed it for a Dutch-side licence. They are not back-checking how you really got your licence."
 
The holder said he originally had been working on the Dutch side and had been sent to get his driving licence because his job required that he drive.
 
"For me to get a French-side licence now I have to go back to school and do the exam. Imagine to be told that after 17 years of driving? I can't take that time out, I have to take heavy tools to work in a car and I have a family to take care of.
 
"I find it unfair where some are getting their licences changed, but everyone followed the same procedures. The Collectivité is not saying why they are not exchanging the Saba licence. I'd like to know what the problem is, because I'm sure other people are in the same situation like me. I hope the government realises that a lot of honest people are affected by this ruling."
 
Efforts to contact Louis Fleming, the elected official in charge of transportation, to explain the reason for the ruling were unsuccessful, as he is on vacation.
 
However, a source indicated the Collectivité has no current agreement with Saba or St. Eustatius regarding drivers' licences. The Executive Council adoption of the ruling came about as a result of discussions only with the government of Country St. Maarten. There was no mention of the other former Netherlands Antilles islands. These islands, on the other hand, are now municipalities of Holland and therefore will fall under a European Union agreement that may permit further discussion on the issue.

(The Daily Herald)